Graduate Programs
Hypersonics Certificate
Hypersonics research and application is at the forefront of modern efforts to increase national security, revolutionize air travel, and discover breakthroughs in space exploration. Our graduate certificate in hypersonics offers students a chance to dive deeper into this critical field of study, focusing on utilizing scientific disciplines relevant to hypersonic flight for the development of emerging aerospace systems.
Program Overview
Upon receiving their certificate, students will demonstrate the knowledge of the foundational scientific disciplines relevant to hypersonic flight to contribute to the development of emerging aerospace systems. Certificate holders will be able to apply this knowledge to understand the significant technical challenges associated with the highly integrated nature of hypersonic systems and to contribute to the multidisciplinary development of such systems.
Why get a graduate certificate?
The hypersonics certificate program is taught by world-class faculty in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Graduate certificate programs like this one give students the opportunity to learn under experts in the field as they hone knowledge and application skills in hypersonics, an advanced field of study in aerospace engineering, defense, and high-speed technologies.
In obtaining a certificate in hypersonics, graduate students will significantly enhance their career prospects and skill set, setting them apart in a competitive market seeking forward thinkers and innovators.
Our Curriculum
Certificate candidates must currently be admitted to a graduate program at the university or hold a terminal degree and be admitted to the graduate school. Students are required to complete 12 credit hours in graduate level coursework. Head to the course catalog to learn more.
Required Course
All students must complete the following course.
AE 525—Hypersonic Flow
3 Credit Hours
Slender body flow; similitude; Newtonian theory; blunt body flow; viscous interactions; free molecule and rarefied gas flow.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 512
Elective Courses
All students must complete at least nine credit hours in the following courses.
AE 521—Aerodynamics of Compressible Fluids I
3 Credit Hours
One-dimensional internal and external flow; waves; small perturbation theory; slender body theory; similarity rules; method of characteristics.
AE 522—Aerodynamics of Compressible Fluids II
3 Credit Hours
One-dimensional internal and external flow; waves; small perturbation theory; slender body theory; similarity rules; method of characteristics.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 511 and 521.
AE 532—Introduction to Turbulence
3 Credit Hours
Macroscopic effects, analogies, statistical treatment, correlation functions, energy spectra, diffusion; application of turbulent jets and pipe flow.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 511 and 512.
AE 569—Plasma Dynamics
3 Credit Hours
Fundamental concepts of plasma including electromagnetic theory, collision processes, kinetic theory, microscopic and macroscopic descriptions, transport properties, and magnetohydrodynamic analysis.
Recommended Background: Vector calculus and graduate fluid mechanics.
Registration Permission: Consent of Instructor.
AE 581—Rocket Propulsion I
3 Credit Hours
Rocket propulsion fundamentals; thermodynamics of nonreacting and chemically reacting ideal gases, rocket nozzle design; ideal rocket performance parameters; rocket heat transfer; chemistry of propellants; liquid rocket engine systems; ground testing; introduction to solid propellant rockets.
Registration Permission: Consent of Instructor.
AE 593—Independent Study
3 Credit Hours
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate. Graduate students only.
Registration Permission: Departmental approval.
AE 599—Special Topics in Aerospace Engineering
3 Credit Hours
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.
Credit Restriction: Students cannot receive credit for more than 9 hours combined of Aerospace Engineering 599, Biomedical Engineering 599, and Mechanical Engineering 599.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.
AE 690—Advanced Topics in Aerospace Engineering
3 Credit Hours
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.
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